Camber and caster correction tool



Dec. 26,- 1944. w, $|MONs 2,365,731

CAMBER AND CASTER CORRECTION TOOL File June 18, 1942 INl/E N 7'01? L. 14 67/210175. M

Patented Dec. 26, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CAMBER AND CASTER CORRECTION TOOL Lowell w. Simons, Tulsa, Okla. Application June 18'. 1942, Serial No. 447,597 1 claim. '(Cl. 153-32) -This invention relates generally to a means for bending bars and more particularly but not by 'way of limitation to a bending tool for correcting both camber and caster of the steering knuckle support arm of an automobile.

In present day automobiles utilizing kneeaction, or individual wheel control, the steering support arm or king pin support arm upon becoming knocked out of line loses both camber and caster to cause a distorted alignment of the wheels of the automobile; which in turn creates undue wear and tear on the rubber tires provided thereon. This invention contemplates a correctiontool for adjusting both the proper camber and caster for the steering knuckle in one operation.

It is an important object of this invention to provide a bending tool that will simultaneously adjust both camber and caster for the steering support arm of an automobile without removing any of the necessary parts ofthe steering arm.

And still another object of this invention is to provide a bending tool for correcting camber and caster of a steering knuckle simultaneously in a simple, accurate and expeditious manner, wherein the correction is made on the wheels of the automobile in the same position of road level.

And still another object of this invention is to provide a bending tool for simultaneously adjusting the camber and caster of an automobile steering arm, which is constructed in such a manner to provide a direct thrust for camber while simultaneously allowing rotation to adjust caster.

And an additional object of this invention is to provide a bending tool of below the A-frame of an automobile whereby a safer and more efiective force is provided.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be evident from the following'cletailed description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing which illustrates one form of such construction so as to be actuated by" hydraulic pressure supported frame I 6. The hook 'sure bar 46.

Referring to the drawingin detail, reference character I 0 designates the wheel and tire of an automobile having the usual king pin I2 and king pin support arm or steering knuckle support annl4 cooperating with the A-frame 16 of the autoportion 24 having its upper end provided with an outwardly. extending projection or finger 26. The outer end portion of the finger 26. is rounded or curved at 28 to form a slight hook. At a point below the finger 26 the body is provided'with a second outwardly projecting member or thumb 30 having a hook portion 32 for a purpose as will be hereinafter described. The lower; portion of the body 24 is provided with an angularly disposed leg member 34 having an outwar rojecting foot member 36.

Referring to Figures 1, 3 and 4 in order for the bending tool 22 to apply pressure when disposed around the steering arm support in a manner to be hereinafter described, a hold bar 38 is disposed below the A-frame and connected thereto by threaded hooks 40 cooperatingwith adjustable wing nuts 42. As shown in Figure 4 two hooks 40 are sutiicient to support the hold bar 38, but it will be understood that any number may be utilized as desired. A similar threaded hook 44 is provided with the bar 38, but has its hook portion extending in a direction opposite to that of hooks 40 in order to assist in the support of the pres- The pressure bar 46 comprises a hollow rectangular member having a plurality of aligned apertures .48, A substantially rectangular slidable member 50 is carried by the bar 46 for a purpose as will be hereinafter set forth. One end of the pressurebar 46 is provided with a bifurcated or yoke connection 52 having aligned apertures 54. A body portion 56 of a hook member is secured in the yoke in a freely rotatable manner by means of a bolt disposed in the apertures 54 and an aperture (not shown) in the body portion. A pair of freely movable hook members 58 are secured at opposite sides of the body 56 and are adapted to circumvent the pivot bushing 60 disposed on the outer end portion of the A- members assist the hold bar 38 in supporting the pressure bar 46 immediately under the A-irame' I6.

W'i'hehook members 58 are pivot bushing rests the jack in position the bar 88 contacts formed with semicircular loop portions 62 each of which are connected by a bar or bracket 64. For application of the hook to the pivot bushing 68, the hook members are swung outwardly in order to facilitate the operation. Upon swinging back into line the within the loop portions 62 so that the king pin supporting arm I4 is disposed directly between the hook members 58. In this manner regardless of any angular movement of the body 66 the arm I4 is always on center with respect to the hook members.

A bracket member 66 of substantially A-shape is welded to opposite sides of the slidable member 68. The bracket comprises outwardly projecting legs 68 and I8 interconnected by a cross bar I2. A freely rotatable plate I4 having a fiat portion 16 on one surface thereof for a purpose as will be hereinafter described, is secured to the bar 12 by an angle bar 18 welded thereto and having the bar 12 disposed therethrough. A perpendicularly disposed'bar 88 is welded to the opposite face of the plate 14, for a purpose as will be hereinafter setforth. The. lower portion of the bar is provided with a plurality of apertures to which is secured through means of a bolt a bracket member 82 for supporting a pressure jack 84 as will be hereinafter described.

It will be apparent that the aligned apertures 48 provide adjustment for the member 58 on the pressure bar 46. A bolt chain 86 is welded to the bracket 66 and carries a bolt 88 adapted to be inserted through the apertures 48 for holding the member 58 and its complementary bracket 66 in whatever adjusted position desired. From Figure 1 it will be apparent a conventional jack 84 is adapted to be disposed between the pressurefoct 36 and the fiat portion I6 of the plate 14. It will be apparent the adjustment of the slidable member 58 can allow for various sized jacks for utilization with the pressure bar. from 6 to 26 inches long have been utilized.

The base of the jack s4 is adapted to rest in the bracket 82 while the jack piston contacts the foot member 36. The plate 14 is rotatable so that the fiat portion I6 contacts the jack base to provide proper alignment of the jack in directing a :positive force against the foot member 36. With the under face of the pressure bar 46 to assist in maintaining the jack and plate 14 in proper position.

finger 26 bears against one portion of the periphery of the arm I4 in proximity of the top 88 thereof, while the thumb 38 bears against the periphery and at a point substantially opposite finger 26 and below the top portion. 88. It will be apparent that the hook members 28 and 32 of the finger and thumb, respectively, have a tendency to circumvent the arm I4. The body 24 extends below the arm I4 and ivot bushing 68 so that the angular leg 34 and its foot member 36 extend into a position to be contacted by the jack 84. In practice it has been found that a retaining block (not shown) may be placed between the top of the king pin arm I4 the frame of the car (not shown) in order to hold the car at road level. The disposition of the tool 24 as shown in Figure 1 is such to put in camber or adjust the wheel for more camber. Upon application of pressure by the jack 84 against the foot 36 there is a reacting force in In practice jacks and a portion of direction by the finger 28. As a consequence force and pressure is applied by the thumb 38 against the upper arm portion of the arm I4, causing the upper half of the arm I4 to be bent in a direction away from the wheel I8, thereby changing the angle of the king pin I2 to what- I ever degree desired, and thus decrease the camber of the wheel.

' well as the camber the an opposite It will be apparent that the correct camber can be determined by any conventional camber gauge. In the event there is a distortion of the caster as tool 22 can be rotated as desired to change the circumferential position of the finger 26 and thumb 28 with a complementary movement of the foot 36. In this manner upon the application of force by the jack 84 in addition to adjusting camber as above described, the thumb and finger simultaneously adjusts the caster in accordance with any degree as determined. by the adjusted circumferential position of the tool 22. In order to assure a direct and effective force by the jack 84 against the foot member 36 in adjusting caster, tool on the arm I4 is compensated for by the hook body 56.

with the pressure bar 46 and jack moved relative to the adjusted angular position of the tool, the body 56 is rotatable with respect to the bar 46 and assures positive support therefor, as well as a direct force by the jack against the foot 36. The plate I4 assists in maintaining the jack in proper alignment.v

In order to take out or decrease the camber of the wheel, the tool 22 is arranged on the arm I4 (not shown) so that the thumb 38 is disposed below the center and adjacent the lower half 92 of the arm I4, whereby upon application of pressur against the foot 36 thumb 38 directs a force against the lower half of the arm I4 to bend the arm toward the wheel by changing the angle of the king pin I2 so that the camber is decreased or taken out of the wheel. It will be apparent that any angular adjustment of the tool 22 in this position can simultaneously adjust the caster as above described.

. In the present disclosure (Fig. 1) the tool has been shown arranged on the arm I4 at a point in the rear of the frame I6 and arm I4 of the right front wheel of the automobile. The tool 22 in this application is termed a right handed tool. However, it willbe apparent that camber and caster can be corrected on the king pin arm for the right wheel (as shown) with a tool arranged in the front or an opposite position on the arm from that shown in Figure 1. While this disclosure is not shown the utilization of a bending tool in front is termed a left hand tool and differs from the right hand tool in the arrangement of the finger 28, thumb 38 and foot 36. In utilizing a left hand tool in front of the arm I4, the tool is constructed so that the direction of the hooked portions of the finger and thumb respectively are in an opposite direction from those in the in Figure 1 is classified as a right hand tool for the right front wheel of an automobile, but as a left hand tool for the left front wheel of an automobile by merely changing the position with any rotation of the by the jack 84, the

which the tool engages the arm tive wheel 01' an automobile.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the invention contemplates a simple, accurate and expeditious tool for simultaneously correcting the camber and caster of a steering knuckle of an automobile utilizing individual wheel control. Furthermore, the camber and caster correction can be made without necessarily removing any parts of the steering arm.

Changes may be made in the combination and arrangement of parts as heretofore set forth in the specification and shown in the drawing, it being understood that any modification in the precise embodiment of the invention may be made within the scope of the following claim without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

A bending tool for correcting camber and caster of the steering knuckle of an automobile, comll of a respecprising a rigid body member which .when in an upright position is provided at its top with an integral forwardly projecting finger adapted to engage one side of the top portion of a steering knuckle support arm, a forwardly projecting thumb integral with said body, arranged below the finger and displaced laterally relatively thereto and adapted to engage the opposite side of said support arm, the body extending downwardly below said thumb for a distance approximately equal to the distance between the top of the finger and the bottom of the thumb and a leg of approximately the same length as the body, rigidly united therewith and inclined gradually forwardly and downwardly from said body, the lower end of the leg terminating in a foot forming an abutment against which pressing means may be applied for turning the tool about a fulcrum formed by said thumb.

LOWELL W. SIMONS, 

